Method and apparatus for indication and control of fiber-forming operations



United States Patent 3 301,647 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATION AND sCON I'ROL 0F FIBER-FORMING OPERA- TION William C Shafer, Anderson, S.C., assignor to Owens- Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 272,030, Apr. 10, 1963. This application May 12, 1966, Ser. No. 550,883 6 Claims. (Cl. 65-2) This application is a continuation of SN. 272,030 filed April 10, 1963, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to method and apparatus for indicating and recording operating conditions of filamentforming apparatus and more especially to a sensing and indicating method and apparatus for use with filament attenuating apparatus to detect and record interruptions in filament-forming operations and for controlling the filament attenuating apparatus or adjuncts associated therewith.

In the manufacture of fine continuous filaments attenuated from heat-softenable materials, such as filaments attenuated from a group of glass streams flowing from orifices in a feeding device, the orifices are arranged in several adjacent rows lengthwise of the feeder of an orientation providing a fan-like configuration of filaments gathered into a strand by a gathering shoe positioned beneath the stream feeder. The filaments, in strand formation, are collected into a generally cylinder-shaped package by winding the strand of filaments on a collector at comparatively high linear speeds to attenuate the streams to fine filaments.

The high speed travel of the fan of filaments necessarily induces or establishes air movement along the fan creating a reduced or su'batmospheric pressure adjacent the fan of filaments.

The present invention embraces a method of utilizing the negative or subatmospheric pressure established adjacent a moving group of filaments as a sensing medium for detecting or recording strand interruption for determining the number of interruptions, the duration of interruptions, or controlling the winding or filament attenuating apparatus.

Another object of the invention resides in a method and apparatus for utilizing the negative or pressure differential existent adjacent moving filaments or linear materials to activate or de-activate the winding or packaging apparatus, or activating a signal indicating an interruption of production, or for controlling components or adjuncts otherwise normally operable during filamentforming and package winding operations.

Another object of the invention resides in a method and apparatus utilizing a pressure responsive media in conjunction with moving linear materials whereby the media is responsive to pressure ambient the moving linear material for detecting interruptions in movement of the linear material, or the duration of the interruptions and for summa-ting the amount of linear material packaged on a winding apparatus.

Another object of the invention relates to a method of utilizing a medium responsive to. pressure differentials established by air velocities induced by a group of filaments being attenuated at high linear speeds to de-activate the attenuating apparatus or activate indicators or other adjuncts.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a ice consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a semischematic elevational view illustrating an arrangement of the invention utilized with a group of rapidly moving filaments;

FIGURE 2 is a detail sectional view of a pressure responsive circuit control means forming a component of the invention, and

FIGURE 3 is a view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

While the method and apparatus of the invention utilizing pressure differentials established by high speed travel of a group of filaments being attenuated from heat-softenable material for indication and control purposes, it is to be understood that the method and apparatus of the invention may be advantageously utilized wherever pressure differentials are established by high speed movement of linear bodies for indicating, recording or control purposes.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIGURE 1, the pressure responsive circuit control device is illustrated as associated with a fan-shaped group of continuous filaments, such as glass, being attenuated from streams of glass. In the embodiment illustrated, a chamber or receptacle 10 is adapted to contain heatsoftened material, such as glass, and the bottom plate or floor 12 is provided with a plurality of hollow depending projections or tips 14 through which flow streams 16 of glass from the receptacle 10.

The receptacle, chamber or feeder 10 is provided at its ends with terminals 18 to which are secured current conductors 20 connected with electric current supply for heating the receptacle 10 and the glass or other material therein to maintain the same in fiowable condition. The receptacle 10 may be provided with feed chutes 22 through which marbles or pieces of glass are fed into the receptacle at a rate substantially equal to the delivery of streams 16 from the feeder plate 12. The receptacle or feeder 12 may be associated with a forehearth of a glass furnace and supplied with molten glass therefrom, if desired.

The streams 16 are attenuated to fine continuous linear bodies or filaments 24 which are converged into a strand 26 of filaments or group of linear bodies by a gathering shoe 28. An applicator 30 of the roll-type may be employed to deliver a coating, size or lubricant onto the filaments by wiping action with an applicator roll 32.

There may be a large number of projections or tips 14 arranged in rows and a filament is formed from the glass stream from each projection, there being two rows of filaments shown in FIGURE 3, but any number of streams may be delivered from the feeder dependent upon the number of hollow projections on the feeder plate or section.

In the embodiment illustrated, the strand 26 of filaments is wound upon a collector or sleeve 34 carried by rotatable mandrel or collet 35 driven by a suitable motor 36 contained within the winder housing 38. The strand 26 of filaments is oscillated or traversed during the strand winding and filament attenuating operation by means of a rotatable traverse 40 of conventional construction which effects a crossing of the individual convolutions of strand as the strand is collected on the collector or sleeve 34.

The filaments 24 can be attenuated at speeds upwards of ten thousand or more linear feet per minute and the high speed linear movement of a large number of filaments in a fanlike configuration, as shown in FIGURE 1, induces movement of ambient air at substantial velocities along and in the direction of movement of the filaments. Such air velocities set up or establish subatmospheric or differential pressures adjacent the rapidly moving rfor filaments. In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, the subatmospheric or differential pressure is utilized for indication of interruption of attenuation and control purposes as hereinafter described.

Arranged adjacent the fan-like orientation of filaments 24 is a tube or pipe 44, the entrance 46 of the pipe being positioned as close as practicable to an outer row of filaments 24 and between the feeder and the applicator 30. The portion of the tube 44 adjacent its entrance 46 is inclined downwardly, as shown in FIGURE 1, so as to permit moisture or water collecting on the tube 44 from the water sprays applied to the filaments to drain off from the terminus 46 of the tube.

The high speed movement of the fan of filaments induces comparatively high velocity of air movement in the direction of travel of the filaments and the air movement establishes subatmospheric or diiferential pressure adjacent the fan of filaments, which reduced pressure is effective on the column of air in the tube 44 to set up a reduced pressure in the tube 44. The tube 44 is connected with a pressure responsive switch means or pressure sensing unit 48 which, under the influence of the reduced pressure created by the movement of the fan of filaments, completes an electric circuit during the duration of the reduced pressure.

The switch means or unit 48 of the invention is illustrated in detail in FIGURE 2 and is inclusive of a circular cylindrically-shaped hollow or sleeve-like casing or housing 50 fashioned of noncurrent conducting resinous material, or glass.

Inserted at the lower end of the housing 50 is .a cylindrically-shaped member 52 which is snugly fitted or pressed into the housing 50 to form a fluid tight seal. The member 52 is fashioned of metal, having good current conducting characteristics, such as brass. The member 52 is provided with a threaded bore receiving a screw 53 which secures a current conductor 54 to the member 52.

Pressed or snugly fitted into the upper end region of the sleeve-like housing 50 is a member or closure 56 fashioned of metal, such as brass. The upper portion of the member or closure 56 is provided with a threaded bore to receive a screw 58 adapted to secure a current conductor 60 to the member 56. The member 56 is provided with an axially arranged bore 62 which is in communication with a transverse bore 64. The end region of the tube 44 is snugly fitted or pressed into the bore 64 to provide a fluid tight connection.

The lower end of the member 56 is fashioned with a sleeve-like tenon or nipple 66 and fitted over the tenon is the upper end of a sleeve or tubular member 70 which is made of noncurrent conducting resinous material, glass, or other nonmetallic material. The tube 70 is snugly fitted onto the nipple 66 to form a fluid tight connection. Aligned with the bore 62 is a threaded passage into which is threaded an electrode or current conducting element 68 fashioned with a needle-shaped or tapered portion 72 extending downwardly into the region defined by the sleeve 70. The electrode 68 is vertically adjustable by reason of its threaded connection with the member 56 and may be locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 69.

The region between the members 52 and 56, with the casing 50, defines a first chamber 74, and the sleeve 70 defines a cylindrical region or supplemental chamber 76 within the chamber 74. The upper member 56 is provided with a vent passage 75 venting the chamber 74 to the atmosphere. Mounted by the member 52 is an upwardly extending second electrode 78 which extends partially into the chamber 76 defined by the sleeve 70. The

chamber 74 is partially filled with a current conducting oil 80 having a slightly acid pH value or other current conducting liquid.

The liquid level in the chamber 74 is well above the terminus or lower end 71 of the sleeve 70 defining the chamber 76. When atmospheric pressure exists in chamber 74 and in tube 44, bore 62 and chamber 76, the liquid level is the same in both chambers 74 and 76. When a subatmospheric or reduced pressure, set up by air velocity adjacent the moving fan of filaments 24, is established in the tube 44, the reduced pressure is transmitted to the chamber 76 defined by the sleeve 70.

The atmospheric pressure on the liquid in the chamber 74 forces the liquid upwardly in the chamber 76 into contact with the tapered portion 72 of the probe 68 to complete an activating or energizing circuit. The portion 72 of the electrode 68 is fashioned with an acute taper or needle-shape to reduce the tendency for the current conducting liquid to adhere to the electrode because of interfacial tension, thus providing a highly sensitive circuit control switch.

It is found that suflicient reduced or subatmospheric pressure is developed by the air velocity adjacent a moving fan of filaments to cause the liquid in the tube 70 to rise. The circuit through the switch unit 48 provided by the conductors 54 and 60 is connected with a highly sensitive electronic relay of conventional construction in dicated schematically at 84 which receives current from a conventional current supply L1, L2. The electronic relay 84 is connected by conductors 86 with amultipole control relay mechanism of conventional construction indicated schematically at 88.

The control relay 88 may be connected with impulse counters and elapsed time meters indicated schematically at 90 connected with the control relay 88 by conductors 92. The control relay 88 may be connected by conductors 94 with the motor 36 operating the winding collet 35 to deenergize the motor upon the occurrence of a breakout of filaments or interruption of the filamentforming operation. The relay 88 may be connected by conductors 96 with signal devices for indicating interruption of filament attenuation.

For example, the controlled devices indicated at 90 may include two impulse counters, one indicating total interruptions of filament attenuation and the other indicating or summating the number of complete doffs or full packages of strand wound on successive collectors 34.

By subtracting the total number of completed or doifed packages of strand from the total number of interruptions of the attenuating operation, a record is provided of the number of filament breakouts occurring during winding operations. The controlled devices 90 may include two elapsed time meters, one recording the total running time of attenuation operations and the other indicating total down time or attenuation interruption time.

The time meters are of convention-a1 construction and, through the switch unit 48 and the control relays 84 and 88, one time meter is activated and the other deactivated substantially instantaneously upon interruption of attenuation. When atmospheric pressure prevails in both chambers 74 and 76, electrode 68 is adjusted so that the tip or apex of the needle portion 72 is just out of contact with the liquid so that upon initiation of movement of the fan of filaments 24 and accompanying induced air velocities, negative pressure will be set up in the chamber 76 through the tube 44 whereby atmospheric pressure in chamber 74 moves the current conducting liquid upward in chamber 76 to establish a circuit through the electrodes 68 and 78 to activate the electronic relay 84.

The circuit leads 96 may be connected with means to close a cover (not shown) on the applicator 30, or shut off the supply of filament coating material delivered to the applicator unit 30 or to activate or deactivate other adjuncts associated with the filament attenuating operation.

Thus, the pressure responsive switch means or unit 48 may be utilized to indicate and record all interruptions of filament formation, the durationof the interruptions,

the number of completed packages of strand and the relation of productive attenuation time to filament interruption or down time.

The pressure sensing means or unit 48 may be utilized for indicating variations in speed of the moving bodies or filaments. In such use, the level of liquid in the tube 70, providing the chamber 76, under varying air pressures developed by variations in speed of the moving filaments or linear bodies, will vary in height. By reason of the tapered or (sonically-shaped portion 72 of the conductor or electrode 68, the area of contact of the liquid with the portion 72 increases or decreases with variations in the height of the liquid in the tube 70.

Hence the resistance of the circuit varies inversely with the area of contact of the liquid with the tapered portion 72 effecting variation in current flow in the circuit of the unit 48. The varying current flow may be employed with a conventional indicator to provide a continuing indication of the linear speed of the filaments or bodies, or to indicate variations in ambient conditions at the region of the moving filaments or bodies.

It may be advantageous in certain uses for the unit 48 to provide for current flow through the liquid and the conductor or electrode 68 only when the linear movement of the filaments or bodies is interrupted.

To adapt the unit 48 for this purpose, the vent passage 74 is omitted and the tube or pipe connected with the chamber 74 in lieu of its connection with the chamber 76 provided by the tube 79. In such arrangement, a vent passage is provided in the member 56 for the chamber 76.

With reduced pressure existent in the chamber 74, the level of liquid in the chamber 74 is raised and the level of liquid in the chamber 76 is lowered. The electrode may be adjusted to a position out of contact with the liquid in the chamber 76 under reduced pressure conditions in the chamber 76 and no current will flow through the unit 48. In the event of interruption of attenuation of the fialments or movement of linear bodies, the pressure in chamber 74 is increased and the level of liquid in the chamber 76 is raised into contact with the portion 72 of the electrode 68 establishing current flow through the unit 48 which may be utilized to activate an indicating means or other instrumentality.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the method and the apparatus of the invention provide a reliable means of indicating and recording filament attenuating interruptions or interruption of moving bodies or variations in the speed of filaments or moving bodies through the utilization of differential pressures and Without engagement of any instrument with the filaments or bodies or disturbing or impairing the fan of filaments or the travel of the filaments.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. In the manufacture of continuous filaments attenuated from heat-softened materials the improvement which comprises sensing the pressure at the filament-forming fan to determine variations in pressure, and recording a change in pressure indicating a break in the filaments.

2. In the manufacture of continuous filaments attenuated from heat-softened materials the improvement which comprises sensing the pressure at the filament-forming fan to determine variations in pressure, and Stopping the attenuation when a change in pressure indicates a break in the filaments.

3. In the manufacture of continuous filaments, flowing spaced apart streams of molten glass from a source, at tenuating said streams into continuous filaments at such a velocity as to induce the flow of surrounding air with the filaments, sensing the pressure of air adjacent the filaments to determine variations in pressure, and detecting a change in pressure of the moving air as an indication of a change in conditions of attenuation of the filaments.

4. In the manufacture of continuous filaments, flowing spaced apart streams of glass from a source of molten glass, attenuating said streams into continuous filaments at such a velocity as to induce the flow of surrounding air with the filaments, sensing the pressure of air moving with the filaments to determine variations in pressure, and stopping attenuation of the streams into filaments upon a change in pressure indicating a change in the attenuation of the filaments.

5. In the manufacture of continuous strands, flowing streams of glass from a source of molten glass, attenuating said streams into continuous filaments at a relatively high velocity, continuously gathering said filaments into a strand, forming between the source and the gathering zone a fan of continuously moving filaments, sensing the pressure of air moving with said fan of filaments to determine variations in pressure, and stopping attenuation of the streams into filaments with changes in pressure indicating a break in the filaments.

6. In glass fiber attenuating apparatus, the combination with a feeder from which flow streams of molten glass rotatable means for attenuating and collecting continuous filaments from the streams of molten glass, means gathering said continuous filaments into a strand at a region below said feeder, forming a fan of said filament between said feeder and said gathering means, air pressure sensing means disposed in close proximity to the filaments of said fan for sensing the pressure of induced air moving with said filaments, and means detecting variations in pressure sensed by said pressure sensing means for interrupting rotation of said rotatable means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 961,358 6/1910 Kinney 23592 2,339,590 1/1944 Thomas et al. 2,663,862 12/1953 Graecen et al 340239 2,989,837 6/ 1961 Vibbe-r 37-37.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 729,951 5/1955 Great Britain. 143,196 3/1961 USSR.

DONALL H. SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner.

R. LINDSAY, Assistant Examiner. 

6. IN GLASS FIBER ATTENUATING APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION WITH A FEEDER FROM WHICH FLOW STREAMS OF MOLTEN GLASS ROTATABLE MEANS FOR ATTENUATING AND COLLECTING CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS FROM THE STREAMS OF MOLTEN GLASS, MEANS GATHERING SAID CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS INTO A STRAND AT A REGION BELOW SAID FEEDER, FORMING A FAN OF SAID FILAMENTS BETWEEN SAID FEEDER AND SAID GATHERING MEANS, AIR PRESSURE SENSING 